Question
How long do efavirenz side effects last?
5 January 2016. Related: All topics, Changing treatment, Side effects, Starting treatment.
I just started with efavirenz and Truvada 10 days ago. I’m not sleeping properly and feel dizzy all the time.
Is this normal, and when will it get better?
Answer
Hi
The type of side effects you report are pretty common when starting efavirenz.
For most people the dizzyness starts to get easier to tolerate within the first week or two, but it sounds like you may be having a particularly difficult time.
One thing to check is that you are not taking your meds after dinner. Meals that contain a lot of fat increase efavirenz levels by about 60%. Efavirenz should not be take until at least two houf after food that contains a lot of fat. Taking efavirenz before bedtime means you are hopefully sleeping during the side effects.
It is up to you how long you want to give this before trying another drug. Although your clinic might suggest giving it more time, some people change within a week if they are badly affected.
You don’t need to prove anything to anyone by staying on a drug that doesn’t work for you. There are lots of other options and switching is easy.
There is more information on efavirenz at this link.
This answer was updated in January 2016 from a question first posted on 11 June 2011.
hi what about dreams is it normal
Hi Tshepo,
When someone first starts Trivenz its common that they may feel tired for the first weeks. Once your body has gotten used to the medication, this usually stops. There’s more about starting meds here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
i just started on trivenz 2 days ago and im always tired and and sleepy how long is thi side effect gonna last?
Hi Ken,
Some meds can cause a person’s skin to become darker, what are you taking?
Am smooth but am getting too dark on face
Hi Gugu, Many people get mild side effects when they start treatment. These last for a week or so. But if they are bad you can ask your clinic if you can switch to other meds. Often the side effects improve and people don’t switch. It’s a good idea to monitor yourself so you can tell them at the clinic. You can list different things, for example have you been sick this week, and how many times did it happen.
Hi m on Atroiza treatment for a week i lost my appetite,nausea stomach upset difficult to sleep dizzy feeling tired all the time should i worrie or just normal?
Hi Matshediso,
How long have you been on meds?
if one takes efeverense and dumiva, would they get stomach cramps and if so for how long would they last ?
Hi Olga,
Starting treatment often comes with side effects. But they are usually mild and go away after a weak or so. Not sleeping well, and rash, are reported side effects of efavirenz which is part of atroiza. Can you ask the doctor if there is another drug you can take.